Device for controlling a maneuver of a vehicle

ABSTRACT

A device is used for controlling a maneuver of a vehicle ( 8 ) in or out of a park area ( 5 ) secured by a remotely controlled access system ( 4 ). 
     The device comprises a module adapted to monitor said maneuver as long as a user action is detected on an electronic device ( 2 ) and to control the operation of the access system ( 4 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to vehicles having an automatic maneuvercapability and more precisely to a device aimed at controlling amaneuver of a vehicle.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND PRIOR ART

It is known to provide vehicles with an automatic parking capability,such as described for instance in the patent application published as WO2016/185 151.

Nowadays, the automatic parking function are usually performed under thesupervision of the driver, located outside the vehicle, controlling themaneuver execution using a remote control device that may be hisSmartphone.

Besides, in many regions around the world, it is quite common to possessa garage that is accessible through a remote controlled door. Anotherremote control device is usually provided to trigger the opening of agarage door or a gate. Such access systems are generally known as GDO(for “Garage Door Opener”) and the devices remotely controlling themUGDO (for “Universal Garage Door Opener”).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In this context, the invention provides a single device for controllinga maneuver of a vehicle in or out of a park area secured by a remotelycontrolled access system, said device comprising a module suited tomonitor said maneuver as long as a user action is detected on anelectronic device and to control the operation (i.e. for example totrigger the opening) of the access system.

Thanks to the use of this module, the automatic maneuver and theoperation of the access system can be managed consistently, without theneed of separate user inputs to trigger each system.

For clarity, the access system may be for instance a garage door, agate, a barrier or a lift, that needs to be operated while maneuveringthe car.

The following optional (and thus not exhaustive) features are alsoproposed:

-   -   the module is suited to control operation of the access system        (e.g. to control the movements of the garage door) by        instructing a communication circuit to transmit a wireless        instruction (in practice: together with access credentials) to a        mechanism for operating the access system (in practice: to a        dedicated receiver that controls in turn the mechanism of the        access system);    -   the communication circuit is suited to establish a wireless data        link with said mechanism and to transmit said wireless        instruction via said wireless data link;    -   the communication circuit is suited to transmit the wireless        instruction by generating a sub GHz radiofrequency signal;    -   the vehicle includes a button suited to send a given instruction        via a bus to the communication circuit;    -   the communication circuit generates said radiofrequency signal        upon receiving the given instruction;    -   the module is also suited to send the given instruction to the        communication circuit via the bus;    -   the module is suited to receive data confirming the detection of        the user action via a wireless communication established with        the electronic device;    -   the module is embedded in the electronic device;    -   the module is suited to detect the user action via a user        interface of the electronic device;    -   the module is suited to control said maneuver by sending a        corresponding instruction to an electronic control unit inside        the vehicle;    -   the maneuver is performed by an automatic parking unit        controlled by said module;    -   the automatic parking unit includes at least one sensor for        capturing data related to the vehicle environment;    -   the automatic parking unit includes a processing circuit for        processing data captured by the sensor;    -   the automatic parking unit includes a control circuit for        controlling a vehicle motion control mechanism based on the        processed data;    -   the automatic parking unit is suited to compute an appropriate        time to operate the access system;    -   the automatic parking unit is suited to communicate said        appropriate time to the module such that the module may control        operation of the access system at said appropriate time;    -   said module is suited to control a remotely controlled comfort        equipment (such as lighting) that is conveniently operated        during the vehicle maneuver;    -   said module is suited to control the access system to close        after the maneuver is completed.

Other features and advantages of the embodiments of the presentinvention will be better understood upon reading of preferredembodiments thereof with reference to the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 represents the possible context of a first embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 schematically shows elements used in this first embodiment.

FIG. 3 schematically shows elements used in a possible variation of thisfirst embodiment.

FIG. 4 represents the possible context of a second embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 5 schematically shows elements used in this second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE(S)

FIGS. 1 and 4 show possible contexts in which the invention may be used.The invention is however not limited to these possible contexts.

In these contexts, a vehicle 8; 108 is about to enter a park area 5; 105(here a garage) secured by an access system 4; 104 (here a garage door).

A mechanism 6; 66; 106 for operating the access system 4; 104 (here foropening or closing the garage door) can be remotely controlled, i.e.operated when receiving a wireless instruction provided it has receivedvalid credentials.

The vehicle 8; 108 is equipped with an automatic parking unit 20; 120capable of maneuvering the vehicle 8; 108 into the park area 5; 105provided a user action is (continuously) detected on an electronicdevice 2; 102, here the user's smartphone.

The operation of the access system 4; 104 (here the opening of thegarage door) is triggered, preferably synchronously to the vehiclemaneuver, either by a module 12; 52 of the vehicle onboard system 10(FIG. 1) or by a module 130 of the electronic device 102 (FIG. 4).

According to a first embodiment schematically represented in FIG. 2 andusable in the context of FIG. 1, the vehicle onboard system 10 comprisesthe automatic parking unit 20, an electronic control module 12 and adata communication circuit 14.

The data communication circuit 14 is suited to establish a wireless datalink with the mechanism 6 for operating the access system 4. Inpractice, this wireless data link is for instance a Bluetooth data linkor a data link in a wireless local area network (WLAN).

The electronic device 2 (here a smartphone as already mentioned)comprises a control unit 30 (such as a microcontroller), a datacommunication circuit 32 and a human-machine interface (HMI) or userinterface 34 (here a touch screen).

The data communication circuit 32 of the electronic device 2 and thedata communication circuit 14 in the vehicle 8 can establish a wirelesscommunication, here of the same type as the wireless data link betweenthe data communication circuit 4 and the mechanism 6 (i.e. a Bluetoothdata link or a data link in a WLAN). As a possible variation, thewireless communication and the wireless data link may be of differenttypes (then likely involving several communication circuits in thevehicle 8).

When the control unit 30 detects a user action on the user interface 34(e. g. a predefined user action requested to the user by an appropriateHMI on the user interface 34), the control unit 30 instructs the datacommunication circuit 32 to send data confirming detection of thispre-defined user action to the data communication circuit 14 of thevehicle 8 (via the wireless communication established between the datacommunication circuit 14 of the vehicle 8 and the data communicationcircuit 32 of the electronic device 30).

The electronic control module 12 can thus receive these data via thedata communication circuit 14.

As long as a user action is detected on the electronic device 2 (i.e. aslong as the electronic control module 12 receives the data confirminguser action), the electronic control module 12 commands and/or monitorssaid maneuver by transmitting a corresponding instruction to theautomatic parking unit 20. (Operation of the automatic parking 20 unitis described below.)

Should however the user fail to perform the predefined user action onthe user interface 34, the electronic control module 12 would no longerreceive the data confirming the user action and would then instruct theautomatic parking unit 20 to stop the maneuver.

Back to the situation where the user continuously interacts with theuser interface 34 of the electronic device 2, at a point of time duringthe vehicle maneuver (i.e. synchronously to the maneuver), theelectronic control module 12 instructs the data communication circuit 14to send a wireless instruction to the mechanism 6 together with validcredentials (via the data link established between the datacommunication circuit 14 and the mechanism 6) to operate the accesssystem 4.

The transmission of the wireless instruction by the data communicationcircuit 14 may be precisely synchronized with the maneuver. In thisgoal, the automatic parking unit 20 may for instance be suited tocompute an appropriate time to operate the access system 4 (possiblytaking into account the time needed to operate the access system 4) andto communicate said appropriate time to the electronic control module 12such that the electronic control module 12 may control operation of theaccess system 4 at said appropriate time.

As already mentioned, the access system 4 is here a garage door.According to a possible variation, the access system could be anelevator making it possible for the vehicle to access the park area. Itcould also be an area closed by a gate or barrier.

In addition, according to a possible embodiment, the electronic controlmodule 12 also commands the data communication circuit 14 to send aninstruction to control a comfort equipment (e.g. a garage light)associated with the access system.

As a result of the wireless instruction received from the onboard system10 of the vehicle 8, the mechanism 6 operates the access system 4 (i.e.here opens the garage door) to allow the vehicle 8 entering the parkarea 5 (here the garage).

The electronic control module 12 can then further command and monitorthe automatic parking unit 20 to drive the vehicle 8, passing thecleared access system 4 and into the park area 5.

Once inside the park area 5, with the vehicle maneuver completed and thevehicle safely parked (engine is off), the electronic control module 12may instruct the data communication circuit 14 to send a wirelessinstruction to the mechanism 6 in order to close the access system 4.For existing GDO, the closure of the access system may be initiated bythe GDO itself following a timeout (time elapsed within any receivedinstructions to keep the access system open).

FIG. 3 shows an alternative arrangement usable in the context of FIG. 1.

According to this possible solution, the vehicle onboard systemcomprises the automatic parking unit 20, an electronic control module52, a data communication circuit 54, a button 56 and a radiocommunication circuit 58.

The button 56 and the radio communication circuit 58 are connected via abus 40. When the user depresses the button 56, an actuation instructionis transmitted on the bus 40. Upon detecting this actuation instructionon the bus 40, the radio communication circuit 58 generates a sub GHzradiofrequency signal (i.e. a radiofrequency signal having a mainfrequency below 1 GHz) intended to the mechanism 66 (and correspondingto the wireless instruction and credentials mentioned above).

The mechanism 66 is designed to operate the access system 4 (here toopen the garage door) when receiving the radiofrequency signal withcorrect credentials.

Thus, activation of the button 56 by the user leads to operating theaccess system 4 of the park area 5.

The electronic device 2 (which is for instance a smartphone) comprises acontrol unit 30 (such as a microcontroller), a data communicationcircuit 32 and a human-machine interface (HMI) or user interface 34(here a touch screen).

The data communication circuit 32 of the electronic device 2 and thedata communication circuit 54 in the vehicle can establish a wirelesscommunication, for instance a Bluetooth communication or a communicationin a wireless local area network (WLAN).

When the control unit 30 detects a pre-defined user action on the userinterface 34, the control unit 30 instructs the data communicationcircuit 32 to send data confirming detection of this pre-defined useraction to the data communication circuit 14 of the vehicle.

The electronic control module 52 can thus receive these data via thedata communication circuit 54.

As long as a user action is detected on the electronic device 2 (i.e. aslong as the electronic control module 52 receives the data confirminguser action), the electronic control module 52 commands and/or monitorssaid maneuver by transmitting a corresponding instruction to theautomatic parking unit 20.

At a point in time during the maneuver (i.e. synchronously to themaneuver), the electronic control module 52 transmits the actuationinstruction (identical to the instruction provided by button 56 uponbeing depressed) on the bus 40, which actuation is received by the radiocommunication circuit 58. The radio communication circuit 58 thus emitsthe radiofrequency signal, which results, as explained above, in themechanism 66 operating the access system 4 (here opening the garagedoor), making it possible for the vehicle to clear the access system 4.

The transmission of the radiofrequency signal by the radio communicationcircuit 58 may be precisely synchronized with the maneuver. In thisgoal, the automatic parking unit 20 may for instance be suited tocompute an appropriate time to operate the access system 4 (possiblytaking into account the time needed to operate the access system 4) andto communicate said appropriate time to the electronic control module 52such that the electronic control module 52 may control operation of theaccess system 4 (by transmitting the actuation instruction on the bus40) at said appropriate time.

Thus, a conventional mechanism 66 triggered by a sub Ghz radiofrequencysignal can be activated synchronously while the automatic parkingmaneuver is taking place.

FIG. 5 shows another possible embodiment in the context of FIG. 4.

According to this embodiment, the vehicle onboard system 110 comprisesthe automatic parking unit 120, an electronic control unit 112 and adata communication circuit 114.

The electronic device 102 (e.g. a smartphone) comprises a control module130 (such as a microcontroller), a data communication circuit 132 and ahuman-machine interface (HMI) 134 (here a touch screen).

The data communication circuit 132 of the electronic device 102 and thedata communication circuit 114 of the vehicle 108 can establish awireless communication (for instance a Bluetooth communication or acommunication in a WLAN).

The data communication circuit 132 of the electronic device 102 is alsosuited to establish a wireless data link with the mechanism 106 foroperating the access system 104. In practice, this wireless data link isfor instance a Bluetooth data link or a data link in a wireless localarea network (WLAN).

In the example described here, the wireless data link between the datacommunication circuit 132 and the mechanism 106 is of the same type asthe wireless communication between the data communication circuit 132 ofthe electronic device 102 and the data communication circuit 114 of thevehicle 108. As a possible variation, the wireless communication and thewireless data link may be of different types (then likely involvingseveral communication circuits of the electronic device 102).

The control module 130 is suited to detect a user action on the userinterface 134 (e. g. a predefined user action requested to the user byan appropriate display on the user interface 134) and, as long as such auser action is detected, to send a continuation instruction to theelectronic control unit 112 (via the wireless communication establishedbetween data communication circuit 114 and data communication circuit132 as explained above) to confirm the vehicle maneuver may safelyproceed further.

Precisely, when the electronic control unit 112 receives thecontinuation instruction, the electronic control unit 112 commands theautomatic parking unit 120 to carry on with the maneuver, as explainedbelow.

At some point of time during the maneuver, when the automatic parkingunit 120 computes that the operating of the access system needs to bestarted to allow a continuous park maneuver, the control module 130sends a wireless instruction to the mechanism 106 via the wireless datalink established between the data communication circuit 132 of theelectronic device 102 and the mechanism 106. Operation of the accesssystem may thus be controlled synchronously to the vehicle maneuver. Thedecision to trigger the access system operation may also be takenasynchronously (relative to the progress of the maneuver), for instanceat the start of the maneuver or when the maneuver cannot proceed anylonger without the access system to be operated.

Upon receiving the wireless instruction and correct credentials, themechanism 106 operates (here opens) the access system 104 (here thegarage door) such that, under the control of the automatic parking unit120, the vehicle 108 may clear the access system 104 and continue themaneuver (here: enter the park area 105).

In addition, according to a possible embodiment, the control module 130also commands the data communication circuit 132 to send an instructionto control a comfort equipment (e.g. a garage lighting) associated orindependent to the access system 104.

At any time, if the electronic control unit 112 fails to receive thecontinuation instruction for a predetermined period of time (possiblybecause the user action is no longer detected on the user interface 134and the control module 130 has thus stopped sending the continuationinstruction), the electronic control unit 112 instructs the automaticparking unit 120 to stop the maneuver.

Operation of the automatic parking unit 20, 120 is now described.

The automatic parking unit 20, 120 comprises at least one sensor 26; 126(generally a plurality of sensors), a processing circuit 24; 124, acontrol circuit 22; 122 and at least a vehicle motion control mechanism28; 128 (such as a power train and/or a steering system and/or a brakingsystem).

Each sensor 26; 126 (for instance a video camera or an ultrasonicsensor) captures data representative of the environment of the vehicle8; 108.

The processing circuit 24; 124 processes (e.g. analyzes) the (raw) datacaptured by the sensor(s) 26; 126 to generate processed data, which alsoincorporates the vehicle 8; 108 environment, but in a more syntheticmanner. The processed data contains for instance the location ofdetected objects in the environment of the vehicle 8; 108.

The control circuit 22; 122 receives these processed data and a commandfrom the electronic control module or unit 12; 52; 112.

When the command received from the electronic control module or unit 12;52; 112 indicates the automatic maneuver should proceed, the controlcircuit 22; 122 controls the vehicle motion control mechanism(s) 28; 128based on the processed data so as to drive the vehicle 8; 108 in itsenvironment.

When the command received from the electronic control module or unit 12;52; 112 indicates the automatic maneuver should be stopped, the controlcircuit 22; 122 controls the vehicle motion control mechanism(s) 28; 128to halt the vehicle 8; 108.

The examples described here involve a vehicle entering into a park area.The invention is however not limited to this situation and also appliesin particular to the case of a vehicle maneuvering out of a park area.

1. A device for controlling a maneuver of a vehicle in or out of a parkarea secured by a remotely controlled access system, said devicecomprising: a module that monitors said maneuver as long as a useraction is detected on an electronic device and controls the operation ofthe access system.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein themodule controls the operation of the access system by instructing acommunication circuit to transmit a wireless instruction to a mechanismfor controlling the access system.
 3. The device according to claim 2,wherein the communication circuit establishes a wireless data link withsaid mechanism and transmits said wireless instruction via said wirelessdata link.
 4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the communicationcircuit transmits the wireless instruction by generating a sub GHzradiofrequency signal.
 5. The device according to claim 4, wherein thevehicle includes a button for sending a given instruction via a bus tothe communication circuit, the communication circuit generating saidradiofrequency signal upon receiving the given instruction, and whereinthe module is also configured to send the given instruction to thecommunication circuit via the bus.
 6. The device according to claim 1,wherein the module receives data confirming the detection of the useraction via a wireless communication established with the electronicdevice.
 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the module isembedded in the electronic device and detects the user action via a userinterface of the electronic device and controls said maneuver by sendinga corresponding instruction to an electronic control unit inside thevehicle.
 8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the maneuver isperformed by an automatic parking unit controlled by said module.
 9. Thedevice according to claim 8, wherein the automatic parking unit includesat least one sensor for capturing data related to the vehicleenvironment, a processing circuit for processing data captured by thesensor and a control circuit for controlling a vehicle motion controlmechanism based on the processed data.
 10. The device according to claim8, wherein the automatic parking unit computes an appropriate time tooperate the access system.
 11. The device according to claim 1, whereinsaid module controls a remotely controlled comfort equipment.
 12. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein said module controls the accesssystem to close after the maneuver is completed.